Float controlled humidifier valve



Oct. 23, 1951 E. w. BOTTUM FLOAT coNTRoLLED HUMIDIFIER VALVE Filed Sept. 3, 1947 INVENTOR. EDWARD W BoTTuM A TTORNE Y Patented Oct. 23, 1951 :542572,692 FLOAT .CQniEQLI-ED HUMIDIFIER VALVEv Edward Bottling! Detroit, Mieli/. afsigllor to vSknttle Manufacturing "Coripa'nyg 4r` Detroit, Miei@firmbraiiiitfiiiiiiiaa Apnliciipn `Sei)teinte: 3, 194'?,` Serial 171,388 a 01- iii-4.0i) 1 2 The present invention relates. i0 ,iriireifirmeiiii t in a fluid .inlet lkgmfll'lg deviee'and `in pa the type which partularly but'not Vexcluygly l l useful humidifier applications. 5 l

cviivleii'iioii'ai Diadi@ in iegiiieiiiig ih@ lati "liiio iii hiimiaiiiaappiiaiiont it .is ,fraganti float 'on'thesurfaoe of te liquid and 2ope a fvely connected vvitli'aflud inl'et'valve'fdi ope ing or Closing iherevfii .ieSDOiiSe' i0 the rising 9i ihfiaid ivliwiie 'desliable y e if suoli a float operated valve fredlientljf hurnidier applications "comprises a plunger operatively .diiiiiiid with flo' movement relative to the orifice of a id vinle vlet for `closing or openingfthle latter vuicv n`fthle` ,rising o r failing' of'the lfloat@ The neat .may be inf the reservoir-itself, but vis preferably located 'la special oat tankv in" communication lig'vith .lie reservoir. Y t* v. One-of thecoinmon dilteultiexs experienoedwitli such valves in huniidiiefpplicatio'lns of Water around Athe base'of ,the `n b i the initial and .in

trolytc actions ,Whieh rapidly od'A teral of the jet, rapidly :increasing and ausing costly 4 and troublesorn corrosive and undesirable impurtie pur-ities. lect around the inlet jet are" frequen objects of the presient .t l, v `Ilventlgrlarevto therefrom by 'QP-9m@ We, .3?? md? t9 ,Pe a provide ,for valves of the character described, an Strfrt-g HOW of fresh l-ncqmmg 'fl'r-{'o-sne t??? 3,5 improvediand readily operated float Qontrol ad. l@ Flunget andtewunglganst ih Jet' l* justifient means and a .simple yet efficient float! 011g ulsutc d p f-a? 1033,15? f 9169: In @$111 g ine adjustmentindicatinggmeas .t0 .facilitate adjust"-v acum. 'a -e 'Impunles. rom 92. i -e '15?' ment 0f the 4float "at adesredlvel andatthe'" bounding Spray 1S yil??,desir-able im that 1i 1115!??? position of ciosure ofthe ini t 'et i slvll niet in au gilen flll-essiitatng "time 49 .Still anothe object oflth nJes'ent invention is a', 1 1ona ,expenseo as 1e,v o oe s 11 I ,v L toghe-region fthejet. t i :9 @y to provide an improved, economically iifianuffa'-l Another diiculty vfrequently encountered ,with

der pr Positively and tightly @.10Se iii@ lvieilQri'iiii'd .i9 preventits leaking. However, tilie'up "rd 'flre on the floattends ,tofvtlirowthe va. linkassimiiiectiiig itwiiiitilie Y. e

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, showing a valve and float control mechanism therefor embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top View of a portion of the apparatus shown inA Fig. 1, taken in the direction of the arrows essentially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view, partially in section, of the one piece jet and jet retainer construction embodying the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top view, partially in section, showing another embodiment of a float controlled :duid inlei-l regulating mechanism employing the present invention.

Fig. 5 is essentially a fragmentary, partially sectioned side view, taken in the direction of the arrows substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Before explaining the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

A particular embodiment Vof the present invention is shown by way of example in the drawings wherein Fig. 1 shows the float I0 secured by a screw-threaded attachment to the float arm II, which latter provides a flattened upright arm extension I2 to facilitate a pivotal attachment at I3 with the horizontal and adjustable pivot support I4. Above the pivot I3, the attened arm portion I2 is pivotally connected at I5 with the left end of the valve plunger I6. The right end of the valve plunger IB provides a tubular structure I'I, which is adapted to receive the fluid inlet jet I8 and which provides the jet closure pad I9 at the base thereof. The pad I9 is preferably of rubber or rubberlike material adapted to close the orifice of the'jet I8 by pressing thereon.

As shown in Fig. 3, the jet I8 and jet retainer assembly is an integral structure having a duct extended longitudinally therethrough and is preferably fabricated, as by Ymachining for example, from a single piece of bar stock to provide the jet retainer body 20 and the enlarged ange or retaining collar 2 I, the annular plunger receiving groove 66 Within the collar 2 I, and the annular splash guard 61 projected forward from the periphery of the collar 2| and around the groove 66. For most eiiicient shielding, the depth of the groove 66 is preferably suicient to permit the open end of the tubular plunger I'I to project within the coverage of the overhanging guard 61, even when the jet I8 is wide open. However, such a depth for the groove 86 is not absolutely controlling and a shallower groove 66 will perform satisfactorily. The body portion 2|] is screw-threaded to permit attachment with a fluid inlet duct 22, as by means of the nut 23. Thus a sturdy economically manufactured unitary jet and jet retainer construction is provided wherein leakage around the base of the jet I8 at its juncture with the collar 2| is absolutely prevented and objectionable spray from the jet I8 is avoided when the latter is open.

A U-bracket 24, Figs. 1 and 2, provides one depending side 25 which is secured to the side of the float tank 26 by a screw or bolt 21. The

threaded jet retainer body portion 2U passes through the bracket arm 25 and the side of the float Vtank 26, to which latter it is secured at a leakproof seal by the nut and washer assembly 28 which draws the collar 2I securely against the inside of the bracket 25.

Various types of float operated fluid inlet control devices are well known to the art. Accordingly, details of the float tank 25 are not shown. The present invention is particularly but not exclusively suited for use in humidifier applications wherein it is desirable to maintain an essentially constant water level in an evaporator pan, not shown, and to permit replacement of water lost by evaporation. Thus the float tank 26, of which only a fragment is shown, is preferably a water tank large enough to contain the float I0 which floats on the surface of the water therein. The float tank 26 may be part of the humidifier evaporator pan itself, or may be directly communicated therewith by an aquaduct which maintains the surface of the water within the evaporator pan and the fioat tank at the same level. Under ordinary operating conditions, the essentially constant and normal operating Water level is determined by the level to which the float I0 must be raised to exert sufficient pressure on the plunger I6 to close the orifice of the jet I8. When the water is below its normal operating level, the jet I8 will be open, even if only slightly. The water level in the tank 26 will thus continue to rise until the normal operating water level is reached and the ori'ce of the jet I8 is completely closed.

The other depending arm 29 of the U-bracket 24 provides an opening, not shown, which receives the threaded horizontal extension of the pivot support I4 and permits slidable movement thereof longitudinally of its axis. Adjustment of the position of the pivot I3 is permitted by the knurled nut 30, which is screwed on the threaded portion of the pivot support I4 and spaced from the right side of the depending arm 29 by the washer 3I, Fig. 1, and the retaining nut 32, which is screwed on the threaded portion of the pivot support I4 on the other side of the bracket arm 29 and spaced therefrom by the lockwasher 33.

The upper tip 34 of the arm I2 extends through a slotted opening or guide slot 35 in the horizontal surface of the U-bracket 24, Fig. 2. The length of the' guide slot 35 is adapted to permit operational pivotal movement of the iioat arm l II about the pivot I3. The lateral sides of the 'slot 35 are closely adjacent Ithe opposite sides of the tip 34 to prevent movement thereof parallel to the axis of the pivot I3. Thus is provided a readily available and economically manufactured means for supporting and bracing the arm I I against lateral movement.

The supporting guide means provided by the slot 35 for the tip 34 becomes particularly important when the water level in the float tank 26 rises and lifts the float I0 tothe position at 'which the plunger pad I9 closes the Vinlet orifice of the jet I8. In order to effect a complete closure of the said inlet orifice, the buoyance of the rising water on the float IIJ must exert considerable purely pivotal action of the float arm II about its pivot I3 without causing torsional forces about 5. the longitudinal axis` of the pivot supprt I4. However, if by reason of play in the pivot I3 or its support I4, the float I shouldl move later`- ally, i. e., parallel to the axis of the pivot I3, the buoyancy of the float IIl will tend to rotate the pivot I3 about the longitudinal axis of its support I4. Unless suitable supporting means are provided to counteract this torsional force, the plunger I6 is thrown out of alignment with the jet I8, and proper functioning of the float controlled valve mechanism fails. Thus the Aarrangement and combination of elements of the present invention avoid the necessity for expensive renements and precision construction in the pivot I3 and its support I4, and lightweight, economically manufacturedl parts may be successfully employed.

In operation of the present device, it is apparent that the raising or lowering of the oat I0 will correspondingly press the plunger I6 and the pad I9 toward or away from the orice of the jet I8. When it is desired to clean the jet structure from accumulated Water impurities, the plunger I'I is moved to the left to completely clear the pad I9 from the orifice of the jet I8. At this position, the jet will be wide open and a strong ow of inrushing water will strike the adjacent plunger pad I9 and rebound within the tubular walls of the plunger I'I, and around the jet I8, and against the base of the groove 66 within the collar 2 I. By virtue of the overhanging splash guard 61, the water rebounding from the collar 2I is prevented from spraying vertically and laterally out of the oat control tank 26. The force of the water is considerably spent by the time the water rebounds from the collar 2|, so that the water is directed horizontally and downward into the tank 26 by means of the splash guard 6'I.

In the arrangement shown, by virtue of the upward extending arm I2 and the horizontal plunger I8 pivotally mounted thereto at I5 above the pivot I3, the horizontal jet I8 will be above the normal operating level of the water within the float tank 2.5. Accordingly, during times when the water pressure at the inlet duct 22 falls, a siphoning action cannot draw water from the tank 26 in the reverse direction through the J'et I8.

Upon loosening the knurled screw 30 and retaining nut 32, the pivot I3 may be horizontally displaced perpendicularly to its axis. Thus the normal level of the float IIJ at which the jet I8 is closed by the pad I9 may be raised or lowered. Correspondingly, the normal operating level of the fluid within the tank 26 will be raised or lowered. At all positions of the float arm I I, the tip 34 within its guide slot 35 is adequately and effectively braced against lateral movement and torque tending to rotate the pivot I3 about the longitudinal axis of the support I4.

Figs. 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the present invention wherein a U-bracket 40 provides the depending side portion 4I which may be secured to the side of the float tank 42 similarly to the attachment of the bracket arm 25 to the iloat tank 26. The depending left arm 43 of the U-bracket 40 provides the opening 44 in which the screw 45 is journaled. The portion of the screw 45 to the right of the bracket arm 43 is externally threaded as shown in Fig. 5. 'I'he portion of the screw 45 within the journal hole 44 is preferably smooth to facilitate rotation upon turning the knurled head or handle means 46 which is rigidly secured to the extension of egt-'tassa the screw- 45 on the left side of the bracket armY A pin 41 passes through the screw 43, Fig. 5. 45 adjacent thev inner face of the depending arm 43 to prevent horizontal movement of the screw 45 to the left in Fig. 5. Movement thereof to the right is prevented by the enlarged knurled head 46.

Coaxial with the screw 45 is the internally threaded opening 48 thereof for the screw threaded end of the pivot support 49 which provides the pivot 5U for the upright arm portion 5I of the iloat arm 52. The plunger 53 is pivotally secured at 54 to the arm portion 5I for horizontal movement toward and away from the orice of the jet 55 upon the up and down pivotal movement respectively of the float arm 52. Similar to the jet shown in Fig. 3, the jet 55 is preferably integral with the enlarged collar 56 and the screw-threaded jet retaining body portion 51, which latter pro-jects through the side of the float tank 42. portion 5'! tightly against the side of the float tank 42 and draws the collar 56 securely against the inside of the bracket arm 4I.

Also, similar to the guide slot 35, the horizontal portion of the bracket 4S provides the guide slot 59 for the uppermost tip 68 of the arm 5I to prevent movement thereof parallel to the axis of the pivot 56.

An indicating rider 6I has a horizontal portion, parallel and adjacent the underside of the horizontal portion of the bracket 48, and a de-v pending portion 62 which rides within the external threads 0f the screw 45 for worm driven horizontal movement longitudinally of the screw 45 when the latter is rotated. The horizontal portion of the indicating rider 6I provides the slot 53 for the tip 68, essentially the width of the slot 56 but somewhat longer so as not to interfere with the free movement of the tip 60 regardless of the position of the indicating rider 6I. The right end of the indicating rider 6I, Fig. 4, extends laterally in either direction to provide the pointed indicating tips 64, which are bent upward and inward over the bracket 48 on either side thereof to secure the indicating rider 6I slidably thereto. Three cross-lines marked on the horizontal surface of the bracket 4U serve to orientate the tips 64. The outer markers 65 are preferably labeled high and low to facilitate adjustment of the water level in the float tank 42 by providing a visual indication of the existing adjustment of the oat position and the direction of adjustment required either to raise or to lower the water level.

The obvious operation of the oat controlled valve mechanism is similar to that previously described in connection with Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Simply by turning the knurled screw handle 46, the screw 45 is rotated and the threaded pivot support 49 is moved in the direction of its longitudinal axis by the worm drive engagement between the threaded portion of the pivot support 49 and the internal screw-threaded portion 48. At the same time, the depending arm 62 of the rider 6 I in screw-threaded engagement with the external threads of the screw 45, and the pointers 64, are also moved longitudinally of the screw 45 either toward the low or the high marker 65.

It is to be observed that where desired, the pitch of the threaded portion 48 may be small compared to the pitch of the external threaded portion of the screw 45, so that movement of the The nut 58 screws on the body- 7i rider 6| "will bemagnified relative to the corresponding movement of the pivot support 49.

By the present invention applicant has provided an improved oat operated uid inlet regulating means which provides a sturdy economical construction, a simplified adjustment means for raising or lowering the normal operating fluid level, and means for indicating the existing adjustment of the float position and the direction of regulation required to raise or lower the normal operating level of the fluid.

I claim:

1. In a float controlled fluid inlet control means having a float tank and a float operated member pivotally mounted for pivotal movement with the rising and falling of the water level of the float tank and having a fluid inlet duct communicating with the float tank and an arm operatively coupled with the float operated memberV for opening and closing said inlet duct upon pivotal falling or rising respectively of the float member, the combination of an adjustable pivot support for pivoting the arm, said pivot support providing a worm screw and a worm drive means rotatably mounted in a stationary portion of said pivot support and in driving engagement with said worm screw, and indicating means for indcating the direction and magnitude of the adjustments of said worm screw relative to said worm drive means and comprising an external screw-threaded portion on said worm drive means and a movable indicator in worm driving engagement with said external threaded portion.

2. In a pivot support for a float controlled fluid inlet control means having a oat tank and a oat operated member pivotally mounted for pivotal movement with the rising and falling of the water level of the float tank and having a fluid inlet duct communicating with the float tank and an arm operatively coupled with the ioat operated member for opening or closing said inlet duct upon pivotal falling or rising respectively of the oat operated member, the combination of a U-bracket provided with a cross portion and a pair of spaced depending side portions disposed at substantially right angles re1- ative thereto, one of said side portions being guide the pivotal movement of the oat operat.

ed member with the rising and falling thereof in the i'loat tank, said pivot support providing a Worm screw and a worm drive means rotatably mounted in a stationary portion of said pivot support and in driving engagement with said Worm screw and indicating means for indicating the direction and magnitude of the adjustments of said pivot and comprising an external screw-threaded portion on said Worm driveV means and a movable indicator in worm driving engagement with said external threaded portion and including a portion slidably mounted on said cross portion of said bracket and having an indicating tip adapted to provide a visual indica- Ation of the existing adjustments of the pivot Support, said worm driving means being supported whereby rotary movement thereof relative to said worm screw and said indicating means effects axial movement of said Worm screw and said indicating means relative to said worm driving means.

EDWARD W. BOTTUM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 771,686 Tackaberry Oct. 4, 1904 1,858,779 Ireland May 17, 1932 1,952,000 Skuttle Mar. 20, 1934 2,096,051 MacLean Oct. 19, 1937 2,172,647 Widman Sept. 12, 1939 2,263,142 Pratt Nov. 18, 1941 2,292,407 Skerrit Aug. 11, 1942 2,402,488 Brown June 18, 1946 

